The Lohit district administration in Arunachal Pradesh clamped section 144 CrPC in Tezu township yesterday following clashes between the workers of Congress and the Trinamool Congress.
According to reports, dozens of Trinamool Congress workers ransacked the office of the Congress party and destroyed a shop besides forcibly closing the shops in Tezu township.
They also went up to the residence of Congress party candidate Karikho Kri and broke open the main gate and destroyed several vehicles parked inside the compound. However, the Trinamool Congress workers fled the scene following retaliation from the Congress workers who were in equal numbers.
The workers even pelted stones at the vehicle of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kaling Tayeng and Superintendent of police (SP) Issac Pertin and damaged their vehicles when they were heading towards the residence of the Congress candidate to pacify the mob, reported UNI.
The Trinamool workers armed with machete and sticks gheraoed the residence of the Congress candidate and started demanding his arrest. However, the DC urged them not to take the law in their hands and assured them to take action after proper investigation.
According to the reports, tension erupted from the night of October 2 when the Congress candidate and his workers reportedly got into a scuffle with a supporter of the Trinamool candidate who was allegedly tearing the Congress posters and shouting slogans against the party candidate.
The mere incident which occurred in the previous night flared up and got political colours when the supporters of the Trinamool Congress made it an issue but fortunately there was no loss of life in the political battle which ensued between the Congress and Trinamool Congress today.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee called on the Chief Electoral Officer to find out the culprits behind the attack on its party nominee Karikho Kri.
The party further alleged that the house of Kri and Block Congress Committee office were also damaged by the Trinamool Congress workers.
Demanding enhancement of security measures, the party called for cancellation of candidature of Nakul Chai contesting from Trinamool Congress for taking the law into his hand and to ensure discipline in the area, the report added.